Literary Devices and Story Elements

Question 1

What are literary devices and why do we use them?

Answer 1

to enhance the author’s writing and the readers enjoyment/understanding. they are optional, but that aid us in analyzing texts.

Question 2

conflict

Answer 2

the root of the problem(s) in a text
the climax or climactic moments are caused by these conflicts
six types of conflict

Question 3

Types of conflict

Answer 3

character vs character
character vs technology/machine
character vs himself
character vs nature
character vs society
character vs supernatural

Question 4

What is a simile

Answer 4

when one thing is compared to another to show its similarities
a simile compares using the words like or as

Question 5

What is a metaphor

Answer 5

a metaphor is a direct comparison, without using the words like has
still used to show the similarity between two things

Question 6

Foreshadowing

Answer 6

when the author leaves hints about what will occur later in the book
can be good or bad events
can be created through dialogue, atmosphere, repetition, etc.

Question 7

Symbolism

Answer 7

when something in a story has a deeper meaning; it symbolizes or represents a greater idea
can be an objects, person, or event

Question 8

imagery

Answer 8

the use of descriptive language to paint a picture in the reader’s mind
lots of adjectives and adverbs are used
enhances the writing with vivid descriptions
plays on our five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound)

Question 9

onomatopoeia

Answer 9

when a word is written exactly as it sounds
onomatopoeic words are often found in comic books
ex. Zip! Smack! Buzz! Rip!

Question 10

characterization

Answer 10

when a character is described in great detail
two types of characterization

Question 11

The two types of characterization

Answer 11

direct characterization
indirect characterization

Question 12

direct characterization

Answer 12

an author describes a character using adjectives and clear descriptions of his/her physical appearance or personality

Question 13

indirect characterization

Answer 13

the reader is left to deduct what a character is like based on situations, dialogue and actions

Question 14

irony

Answer 14

when something happens which is totally expected or unintended
the opposite of what we assume will happen, happens

Question 15

mood

Answer 15

this creates an emotional atmosphere
writing will allow us to “feel” the mood of the text : sad, happy, scary, nervous, etc.
we can better understand an author or character’s attitude
can also foreshadow future events

Question 16

flashback

Answer 16

this is when there is a break in the timeline of a story (“flashback”)
used to highlight important events or ideas from the past in order to provide context to the present
often exposes a character’s past, in order for a readers to gain a deeper understanding of him/her
usually indicated with a page break in the text

Question 17

hyperbole

Answer 17

this is an exaggeration in order to add detail/emphasis
not to be taken literally

Question 18

What are story elements and why do we use them?

Answer 18

to enhance the author’s writing and better develop a story. They are essential to a story.

Question 19

theme

Answer 19

NOT the subject
a theme is a lesson, idea or moral that the author is trying to teach
a text can have more than one theme
a theme is often longer than one word

Question 20

protagonist

Answer 20

the main character in a story. they usually focus on him/her.

Question 21

antagonist

Answer 21

the person who goes against the protagonist. Usually the “bad guy” or the “villian”

Question 22

secondary character

Answer 22

Major: almost as important as the protagonist. They help move the story forward
Minor: characters who are not seen often, but still contribute minimally to the story.

Question 23

foil

Answer 23

a secondary character who contrasts the protagonist, in order to highlight their differences. Usually, this character’s qualities compliment the protagonist’s.

Question 24

flat

Answer 24

usually minor characters in a story, not well developed, can be easily defined in a single sentence because we know little about the character.

Question 25

round

Answer 25

usually major character in a story, fully developed personalities, very convincing ( like they are real )

Question 26

dynamic

Answer 26

usually the protagonist, someone who changes and grows throughout the story, character comes to some sort of realization that changes him/her

Question 27

static

Answer 27

usually minor characters, characters does not change/stays the same

Question 28

What is a plot

Answer 28

The plot of the story is the storyline. In order for the story to keep us engaged, it must be properly developed from start to finish. This is typically represented by the story arc, which includes five steps

Question 29

What are the five steps of a plot

Answer 29

exposition: setting, main characters, initial conflict(s)
rising action : events begin to unfold, the conflict(s) build
climax: the main conflict erupts and must be solved
falling action: the conflict slowly resolves
resolution: the conclusion of the story

Question 30

genre

Answer 30

The genre is the type of story (fiction, non-fiction, fairy tale, biography,etc.)
genres can be even more specific ( romance, horror, drama,etc.)
each genre has specific characteristics - stories should meet most of the criteria in order to fit this genre
stories can be more than one genre
ex. rom-com, sci-fi

Question 31

What is a point of view

Answer 31

point of view is based on how the story is written ( narrator vs author )

Question 32

Types of point of view

Answer 32

first person narration: i
second person narration: you ( rarely used )
third person narration: he/she

Question 33

What is a setting

Answer 33

The setting is the time and place in which a story takes place.
if available, ithe setting also includes the environment ( weather, season, temperature, etc. )

Question 34

when looking for a setting, as yourself:

Answer 34

where?
when?